Dear NASET News,

Welcome toNASET'sWEEK in REVIEW. Here, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASETto read and or download, as well as some of the most interesting articles that have happened this week in the field of special education. We hope you enjoy this publication. Feel free to send us articles for this publication or let us know your thoughts about theWEEK in REVIEWatnews@naset.org.Have a great weekend.Sincerely,

NASETNews Team

NASET Sponsor - University of Kansas

New This Week on NASET

NASET's Practical Teacher

October 2013

Bridging the Great Divide: Best Practice Ideas for the Resource/Inclusion Teacher

By Jodi Chirstopoulos

Communication is a vital component to bridge the great divide between Special Education and General Education. This collaboration is essential to the success of our students with diverse learning needs. Resource and/or Inclusion Teachers must be prepared and organized from the very beginning of the year. Early preparation and consistency throughout the year using these best practice ideas will set high expectations for everyone that will impact the progress and achievement of the students on your caseload. This issue of NASET's Practical Teacher was written by Jodi Christopoulos. It will focus on best practice ideas for the resource room and inclusion teacher.

Students who are moving from school to post school life need to have transition services in their IEPs. For many students, they will be leaving school and entering the job market. For many youth with disabilities looking ahead to life after high school, employment will be an immediate and serious consideration. And the time to consider it well and thoroughly is during the high school years, during transition planning, and through transition services that are carefully matched to the goal of employment. The focus of this issue of NASET's IEP Component Series was written by the National Dissemination Center for Students with Disabilities (NICHCY). The article will connect you with resources in the employment world. Exploring what these organizations and centers have to offer can be extremely helpful when involved in planning a student's future in this area.

Center To Bridge Divide Between Disability Community, Police

A first-of-its-kind national center is in the works with an eye toward improving interactions between individuals with developmental disabilities and law enforcement. The Arc said it has received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance to establish the new initiative which will address both victim and offender issues involving those with disabilities. The effort comes less than a year after the death of Robert Ethan Saylor, a Maryland man with Down syndrome, at the hands of law enforcement after he refused to leave a movie theater. The incident prompted national outrage and calls for better police training and awareness. To read more,click here

Big Breakfast May Be Best for Diabetes Patients

A hearty breakfast that includes protein and fat may actually help people with type 2 diabetes better control both their hunger and their blood sugar levels. Patients who ate a big breakfast for three months experienced lower blood sugar (glucose) levels, and nearly one-third were able to reduce the amount of diabetic medication they took, according to an Israeli study that was scheduled for presentation Wednesday at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting in Barcelona. "The changes were very dramatic," said Dr. Joel Zonszein, director of the Clinical Diabetes Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "I'm impressed with these findings," added Zonszein, who was not involved with the study. "We should see if they can be reproduced." To read more,click here

New Robotic Leg Gets Closer to the Real Thing, Study Says

Scientists report early progress in efforts to create better robotic legs that will sense nerve signals and know how their users want to move. Last fall, one such "smart limb" helped 31-year-old Zac Vawter climb 103 floors of Chicago's Willis Tower. Vawter, who lost his right leg after a motorcycle accident, was trying out a state-of-the-art prosthetic prototype, now the subject of a new report published in the Sept. 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Vawter "can do many normal activities like walking up and down stairs," said Levi Hargrove, a research scientist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and lead author of the study. "He can even reposition the prosthesis by thinking about it." To read more,click here

When It Comes To Fragile X, Many Experts Don't Have A Clue

It's the leading cause of inherited intellectual disability and often co-occurs with autism, but a newstudyfinds that many educators and therapists know little about fragile X syndrome. Researchers surveyed 439 behavior therapists, psychologists, special educators and speech therapists working with children who have autism, nearly half of whom had experience with at least one child diagnosed with fragile X. Nonetheless, they found that such professionals are largely in the dark about the genetic disorder. Less than 30 percent of those surveyed knew that fragile X is found in 1 in 20 kids with autism, according to the study published recently in the journal Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. What's more, just a quarter were aware that hand flapping and physical characteristics like prominent ears are common among boys with the condition. To read more,click here

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

Through an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here

Epilepsy Drugs in Pregnancy May Affect Infants' Fine Motor Skills

Young children exposed to epilepsy drugs in the womb are at increased risk of having impaired fine motor skills, according to a new study. Exposure to the drugs in breast milk, however, does not appear to pose a threat. Researchers looked at data collected from Norwegian mothers about their children's language, behavior, and motor and social skills at the ages of 6 months, 18 months and 36 months. The women also provided information on breast-feeding during the first year for the study, which was published online Sept. 23 in the journal JAMA Neurology. Of the children in the study, 223 were exposed to one or more epilepsy drugs in the womb. To read more,click here

Study: No Link Between Autism, Celiac Disease

Individuals with autism are no more likely to have celiac disease than those without the developmental disorder, according to findings from a large newstudy. Researchers looked at health records from more than 250,000 people in Sweden, comparing several national databases of patient records to assess the prevalence of celiac disease among those with autism as compared to individuals without the developmental disorder. They found no difference in prevalence of celiac disease between the two groups, according to findings published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. To read more,click here

Preemies' Woes Sometimes Due to Heredity, Study Says

Only some of the physical and mental health problems previously associated with preterm birth are actually caused by it, a new study contends. Researchers analyzed the medical records of 3.3 million children born in Sweden between 1973 and 2008, and confirmed the strong link between preterm birth (generally classified as before 37 weeks' gestation) and the risk of infant and young adult death, autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the study authors also concluded that many other problems that have been linked with preterm birth -- such as severe mental illness, learning problems, suicide and poverty -- may instead be more closely related to other factors that people share with other family members. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center's topic pages are a great place to find resources. Their Autism page offers information on early identification of ASD in young children, elements of effective programs, personnel preparation to serve young children with ASD, resources for families, and more. To learn more, visit: http://www.ectacenter.org/topics/autism/autism.asp

NASET Sponsor - University of Kansas

Can Afternoon Naps Help Preschoolers Learn Better?

In an era when the average preschool day is filled with must-do curriculum, a new study has found that afternoon naps are not a waste of time. Instead, taking an afternoon snooze may actually improve a child's ability to learn by improving memory, a small study suggests. In a typical day, preschoolers pack information gleaned from a day of ABCs, shape sorting and social interactions into the short-term storage areas of their brains, said Rebecca Spencer, lead study author and a neuroscientist at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. "A nap allows information to move from temporary storage to more permanent storage, from the hippocampus to the cortical areas of the brain," she said. "You've heard the phrase, 'You should sleep on it.' Well, that's what we're talking about: Children need to process some of the input from the day." To read more,click here

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Guess the answer to this week's trivia question and we'll recognize you in next week's Week in Review.

who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question: When a student has a z score of +1.0, T score of 60, and a stanine of 7, this means that the student's score wasexactly one standard deviation above the mean.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:

In special education, what does it mean when we say that an"ecological assessment" was conducted when doing the evaluation of a child for a suspected disability?

All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, October 7, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.

Racism Takes a Toll on Kids' Mental Health, Research Shows

Being a victim of racism may trigger poor mental health, depression and anxiety in children and teens, according to a new review. The report, published in the October issue of the journal Social Science & Medicine, looked at 461 cases of links between racism and the health and well-being of youngsters. "The review showed there are strong and consistent relationships between racial discrimination and a range of detrimental health outcomes such as low self-esteem, reduced resilience, increased behavior problems and lower levels of well-being," lead researcher Naomi Priest, of the University of Melbourne in Australia, said in a university news release. To read more,click here

The standard treatment for amblyopia, a condition of poor vision in an otherwise healthy eye, is patching: covering a child's better-seeing eye with a patch for two hours a day to improve vision in the weaker eye. Doctors often suggest increasing the daily duration of patching if children stop making progress, even though there have been limited data showing this approach actually works. However, a recent report by the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigators Group (PEDIG) provides evidence that increasing patching from two to six hours a day is effective at treating persistent amblyopia. The research was funded by the National Eye Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health. To read more,click here

NASET Sponsor - University of Kansas

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

Through an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here

Automated CHICA System Makes ADHD Diagnosis More Accurate

Asking three questions of parents of 5- to 12-year-olds in the waiting room before a pediatrician visit may make a lifetime of difference for their child, according to a new study from Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University investigators. Does your child OFTEN make careless mistakes or not pay close attention to details, causing problems at home or school? Does your child OFTEN have difficulty remaining seated when asked to do so, causing problems at home or school? Does your child OFTEN have a hard time paying attention to tasks or play, causing problems at home or school? Positive answers to any of these screening questions alerts Child Health Improvement through Computer Automation (known as CHICA), a computer-based decision support system developed by Regenstrief and IU researchers to deliver personalized evidence-based recommendations to the child's physician at the time and point of care to further test for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder according to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. To read more,click here

Actress Opens Up About Autism Diagnosis

She starred beside Tom Hanks and dated John F. Kennedy Jr. and now a one-time A-lister says she was diagnosed with autism as a youngster and doctors recommended she be institutionalized. Daryl Hannah, 52, who starred in the 1980s blockbusters "Splash" and "Wall Street" tells People Magazine that she suffered from "debilitating shyness" as a result of her autism diagnosis. Hannah says she "checked out" at school and rocked incessantly - something she still does today - and doctors recommended that she be medicated and institutionalized, ideas that her mother rejected. Movies became a way to cope and at age 17, Hannah moved from her home in Chicago to Los Angeles with her eye on the silver screen. To read more,click here

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Group Savings Plus from Liberty Mutual

As a member ofNASETyou qualify for a special group discount* on your auto, home, and renter's insurance through Group Savings Plus® from Liberty Mutual. This unique program allows you to purchase high-quality auto, home and renters insurance at low group rates.

See for yourself how much money you could save with Liberty Mutual compared to your current insurance provider. For a free, no-obligation quote, call 800-524-9400 or visit

*Group discounts, other discounts, and credits are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverage only. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA.

Identifying Trauma Risk in Small Children Early After an Accident

Small children also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders after a serious accident. With the aid of a new test, children with an increased risk can already be identified in the space of a few days. The test devised by scientists from the University of Zurich and the University Children's Hospital Zurich helps to treat traumatized small children at an early stage. Accidents also traumatize small children. Around one in ten children still suffers from a post-traumatic stress disorder a year after a road accident or burn injury, reliving aspects of the traumatic experience in the form of flashbacks or nightmares. In doing so, young children keep replaying the stressful memories while avoiding anything that might remind them of the accident in any way. As a result of this constant alertness to threatening memories, the children can develop sleeping disorders, concentration problems or aggressive behavior. To read more,click here

iPhones for the Eyes: Smart Phone Photography to Help Diagnose Eye Disease

Retinal (or fundus) photography is an essential part of any ophthalmology practice. Commercial fundus cameras can cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, making the technology out of reach for smaller ophthalmic practices and to physicians in third-world countries. In a recent study now on line, Massachusetts Eye and Ear researchers describe the relatively simple technique of fundus photography in human and rabbit eyes using a smartphone, an inexpensive app for the smartphone, and instruments that are readily available in an ophthalmic practice. Smartphones are now being used more routinely in ophthalmology to document patients' ocular conditions, the authors write. Previously described techniques of fundus imaging often proved difficult to repeat, partly because video capture using Apple's built-in camera app in the iPhones cannot independently control the focus and the exposure during filming, which results in glare and poor image quality. To read more,click here

Disney Confirms Change To Special Needs Access

Starting this month, Disney theme parkswill changethe policy that lets visitors with disabilities skip the long lines for attractions. Instead of giving visitors with disabilities and their family members a card that allows them to go directly onto rides, the guests will be given a scheduled time period to return to get faster access to the attraction. In essence, guests with disabilities and their families will get to use a new version of the Fastpass tickets offered for certain rides to all guests. The new policy will begin Oct. 9. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

Recognizing that special education administrators need resources to support schools in their work with students and staff when impacted by crisis situations, the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) has compiled a list of excellent resources from various sources that may be helpful to administrators in their roles of supporting students and staff. To learn more, visit: http://www.casecec.org/Documents/Crisis%20Response%20Resources%201-4-13.pdf

In the U.S., there are nearly 300,000 children with juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic illnesses according to estimates from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). For pediatric patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), effective treatment for this disabling disease is imperative. New treatment recommendations that guide physicians caring for children with systemic JIA are now published in the ACR journals, Arthritis & Rheumatism and Arthritis Care & Research. Systemic JIA is defined by the International League of Associations for Rheumatology as arthritis in one or more joints for at least six weeks in children sixteen years of age or younger. The arthritis is accompanied or preceded by fever for at least two-weeks that is daily ("quotidian") for at least 3 of those days, with one or more of the following symptoms: red rash (evanescent erythematous rash), enlarged liver, spleen or lymph nodes, and inflammation of the tissue lining (serositis) of the lungs, heart, or stomach. Medical evidence suggests that systemic JIA accounts for 4% to 15% of all JIA cases. To read more,click here

Cross-Ethnic Friendships in Schools Make Youths Feel Less Vulnerable, Safer

Friendships matter throughout life, and in early adolescence they provide validation and emotional support. Now a new study has found that friendships across ethnic groups in urban middle schools help protect youths from feeling vulnerable, making them feel less lonely and at the same time safer. As the population of children in the United States grows increasingly diverse, this study has implications for how educators oversee student interactions. The study, by researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, appears in the journal Child Development. Researchers looked at 536 Latino and 396 African American sixth graders from 66 classrooms in 10 urban American middle schools that varied in ethnic diversity and were in predominantly low-income neighborhoods. The students reported on the number of same- and cross-ethnic friends they had, how vulnerable they felt, the quality of their friendships, and their ethnic identity. To read more,click here

The overuse of antipsychotic medications has gained the attention of America's doctors, as medical groups groups add the drug class to a host of overused medical interventions including antibiotics and colonoscopies, among others. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) this week launched an avalanche of public campaigning against the overuse of antipsychotics for treating everything from dementia to insomnia to pediatric behavioral problems, joined thus far by more than 50 medical groups. The APA published a new list of questionable uses for such medications as part of its "Choosing Wisely" campaign criticizing overuse of treatments, such as antibiotics for cold viruses and other inappropriate scenarios, contributing to the development of drug-resistant bacteria known as "superbugs." To read more,click here

Does 'The Spectacle' Of Video Games Destroy Sensitivity To Violence?

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. announced yesterday that the GTA 5, the fifth installment of its popular and controversial Grand Theft Auto video game franchise has delivered first day sales of more than $800 million worldwide (excluding the upcoming launch in Japan and Brazil). At $60 a pop, total retail revenues translate into 13 to 14 million units of the game sold, Reuters reported. Last week, "consumers around the world gathered in anticipation to be among the first to experience the evolution of this remarkable series," Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and CEO of Take-Two, stated in a press release. "In North America alone, more than 8,300 stores opened their doors at midnight to welcome fans whose loyalty and enthusiasm were rewarded with what The New York Times called 'the most immersive spectacle in interactive entertainment.'" GTA 5 was so desirable, that one fan was stabbed and hit over the head with a brick for his copy. To read more,click here

NASET's Latest Job Listings

* Special Education Teacher - The RSD is seeking passionate, thoughtful candidates to be Special Education Teachers in RSD direct-run schools in Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, and New Orleans. The Special Education Teacher will be responsible for creating a learning environment conducive to student achievement and development through maintaining high expectations and a high standard of rigor in the following areas: Instruction, Design and Planning, The Learning Environment and Professionalism. The Special Education Teacher will report to the Principal. - To Learn more -Click here

* Master Middle School Teachers: $125,000 Salary - TEP aims to put into practice the central conclusion of a large body of research related to student achievement: teacher quality is the most important school-based factor in the academic success of students, particularly those from low-income families. In singling out teacher quality as the essential lever in educational reform, TEP is uniquely focused on attracting and retaining master teachers. To learn more - Click here

* TEACHER - Tufts Educational Day Care Center is an innovative year-round, full-day educational preschool and kindergarten program for children from within the Tufts community and surrounding cities. TEDCC serves as a laboratory site for the University and is affiliated with the Department of Child Development, in the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University. The center enrolls approximately 82 children ages 2.9-6. - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Paideia Academies is looking for a Special Education Teacher in the Phoenix Arizona area. The Mission of Paideia Academy is to challenge and inspire learners by providing a rigorous, content-rich, classical education incorporating languages, music, and the arts while nurturing positive character development. To learn more -Click here

Food For Thought..........

No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.